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PAKISTAN: Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan

Introduction

There has been negligible research to determine how many women own land and how many control land. With the understanding that deprivation from and unequal opportunity to land ownership is a structural and systemic gender barrier, that is both, the cause and effect of women’s marginalization, this research was undertaken to address this knowledge gap and draw inferences and examine causality behind women’s landlessness, poverty and status of women. It aimed provide an informed base and strong case for policy makers, state institutions, development organization and practitioners to redress the historic and contemporary marginalization of women from power equations. The study is the first of its kind on the issue, in depth and extensive, multi phased to cover all facets of the debate. It contained research and analysis, broadly through a policy and law review and an examination of the current position regarding women’s ownership and control over land. It also examined the land administration structures and judicial precedents, reflecting the implicit trends. It also assessed the role of the State in according women land rights through land reform. The research holistically explored women’s landlessness, both the process and the outcome, and systemic barriers in place. It ‘tested’ its findings through also analyzing cases where women have ownership of land and explore the possibilities that could emerge if this right is accorded, assessing different models proposed for ensuring women’s right to land.

Scope

The research spanned rural areas across all four provinces of Pakistan, drawing on both national laws, existing policies, statistics, literature review and analyzing land related institutions and structures, as well as field work; qualitative data gathered through interviews, surveys, focus group discussions, life histories, narratives and case studies.

Project Launch

The research findings of this project will be launched on Thursday 24 July 2008 from 10:30am-5: 30pm at Serena Hotel, Islamabad.  For launch details click: Tentative Program.

Draft Project Publications

The project which culminated in July 2008 came out with the following documents:

• Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan-Consolidated Research Findings
• Women's Land Rights - A Review of Policy and Law
• Gender and Land Reforms in Pakistan (Summary)
• Women’s Land Rights: Policy Brief 
• Land Rights for Muslim Women: Review of Law and Policy (Detailed)
• Land Rights for Muslim Women: Review of Law and Policy (Summary)
• Peasant Land Rights Movements of Pakistan (Detailed) 
• Peasant Land Rights Movements of Pakistan (Summary) 

 Donors

SDPI, in collaboration with ActionAid, Pakistan, IFAD and IDRC conducted this study.

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